IEC 60364 is the international standard for low-voltage electrical installations. It is the rulebook that national wiring codes are built from or aligned with. Your home charger is never wired “to IEC 60364” directly. It is wired to your country’s version of those rules, such as the National Electrical Code in the US or BS 7671 in the UK.
Key Takeaways
- IEC 60364 is the international installation standard behind many national wiring codes.
- Your charger is installed to the national code, such as the NEC or BS 7671, not to 60364 directly.
- Product standards judge the charger; installation standards judge the wiring. Both must be right.
One Rulebook, Many National Versions
The standard is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as a series of documents. Countries adopt it in their own way. In the UK, BS 7671 follows its structure closely, and the IET publishes guidance built on it. In the US, the NEC covers the same ground as a separate, home-grown code. The details differ. The job is the same: safe wiring for buildings, including the circuits that feed EV chargers.
This is why installation advice does not travel unchanged across borders. A rule quoted from one country’s code may have a different number, or no equivalent, in another.
What the Standard Covers
At scope level, IEC 60364 deals with how fixed wiring is designed and checked. The parts an EV owner brushes against are these:
| Topic in the standard | What it means on a charger circuit |
|---|---|
| Protection against electric shock | The circuit must disconnect safely if a fault occurs. In the US this is where GFCI protection comes in; other countries use their own protective devices for the same job. |
| Protection against overcurrent | Cables and breakers are sized so the wiring cannot overheat. The NEC expresses this for EV charging with its 125% continuous-load rule: a 32 A charger sits on a 40 A breaker, a 48 A charger on a 60 A breaker. |
| Earthing and fault protection | Metal parts must be bonded and earthed so a fault clears instead of leaving a casing live. |
| Selection and installation of equipment | Devices must suit their location, indoors or outdoors, wet or dry. |
None of this is homeowner work. It is the framework your electrician designs inside, the same framework behind a standard charger installation.
Installation Rules Are Not Product Standards
Two different rulebooks meet at your wall. Product standards cover the charger itself: whether the unit on the wall is safe to sell and use. Installation standards cover the wiring it connects to. A charger can be fully certified and still be installed badly. A perfect circuit cannot rescue a faulty charger. When you read a quote or an inspection report, it helps to know which side of that line each item sits on. The qualifications an installer needs belong to the wiring side of the line.
Chargers Built for a Proper Installation
EVDANCE chargers are built to be connected by an installer working to local code. The EV-ACT5006T 48A Level 2 wall charger can be hard-wired at up to 48 A or plugged into a NEMA 14-50 outlet at lower current, and carries ETL, FCC and CE marks. Whichever way it is connected, the circuit behind it is a job for a licensed electrician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IEC 60364 the law?
No. It is a standard, not a statute. It gains force when a country builds it into national wiring rules or regulations. The document an inspector enforces is the national one.
Is IEC 60364 the same as the NEC?
No. They are separate documents that cover the same ground. The NEC is the US code. BS 7671 is the UK rulebook aligned with IEC 60364. Requirements can differ in detail between them.
Does my charger need to comply with IEC 60364?
The charger complies with product safety standards; the installation complies with installation rules. If a seller quotes 60364 for a home charger, ask which national code the installation itself will follow.
Related Reading
- Does an EV Charger Need GFCI Protection?
- What Is a Standard EV Charger Installation?
- What Qualifications Do You Need to Install EV Chargers?
